Warning device for typewriters



June 25, 946. H, s SLOCUM WARNING DEVICE FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed Jan. 16, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

TTOF/VEKS.

June 25, 1946. H. s. sLocUM WARNING DEVICE FOR TYPWRITERS Filed Jan. 16, 1945 2 sheets-sheet z INVENToR.

ram/5m.

mm, QN h J -um N \R QM. QN IL be WN {-llalulll |s||||||1\ I- Patented June 25, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE 2,402,936 WARNING DEVICE FOR TYPEWRITERS Harold S. Slocum, Waukegan, Ill.

Application January 16, 1945, Serial No. 573,001

Claims.

It is the object of this invention to provide novel means whereby a signal will be given when paper which is to form a manuscript has been rolled to a predetermined extent on the platen of a typewriter, the device being of use to prevent typing from being continued to a place objectionably close to the lower edge of the paper, and being of use, also, to Warn an operator to cease typing at any predetermined place between the upper and lower edges of the paper.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described, and is shown in the drawings; but since typewriters are of different constructions, it is to be understood that a mechanic working within the scope of what is claimed, may make such changes as his skill may direct, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

' Figure 1 shows in top plan, a device constructed in accordance with the invention, parts being broken away;

Figure 2 is a front elevation;

Figure '3 is a section taken through the pulley l attendant parts;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Figure 5 is an elevation showing the release lever for the paper clamp and parts associated therewith;

Figure 6 is a top plan showing one of the shafts; Figure 'l' is an elevation of the vshaft shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a transverse section taken adjacent to the slide;

Figure 9 is an elevation of the slide and associated parts;

Figure 10 is a top plan of the cam on the slide, and attendant parts;

Figure 11 is an elevationof the connecting rod and associated parts.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is capable of use on typewriters of widely different sorts, but by Way of illustration there is shown a typewriter carriage C, comprising a front bar I, supplied on its forward surface with a scale 2 and on its rear surface with a longitudinal rack 3. A platen roller 4 is depicted, and is secured to a shaft 5, journaled in the end members of the carriage C.

A cone clutch B is secured at l to the platen shaft 5, and houses a compression spring 8 which acts lengthwise of the shaft 5. The clutch 6 coof which is anchored at I2 to one end member Y radius arm I6 is pivoted at II to the release lever I4 and terminates in a fork I8 receiving the platen shaft 5. On the inner surface of the radius arm I6, at the base of the fork I8, there is a lateral offset I9, which acts cam-wise against the hub of the pulley I0.

A shaft 20, of polygonal cross-section, extends longitudinally of the carriage C and is supplied at its ends with trunnions 2| which are journaled in the end members of the carriage. The shaft 20 has oppositely disposed, longitudinal ball races 22. A butler spring 23 is secured at one end of the shaft 20.

A slide 24 is mounted for reciprocation on the shaft 20, but is held against rotation thereon; The slide 24 houses anti-friction balls 22a, received in the ball races 22 of the shaft 20. The slide 2d carries an index finger 25, so located as to cooperate with the scale 2 on the front bar I of the typewriter carriage C.

A direction changing idler 26 is journaled on the forward surface of the'shaft 2D, and is disposed at that end of the shaft which is remote from the pulley Il). Idlers 28 and 21 are journaled on the shaft 20 and are located adjacent to the pulley I0, and are oppositely disposed. The common axis of the idlers 21 and 28 is disposed at right angles to the axis of the idler 26.

One end of a flexible element 29 is secured to the pulley l0, the flexible element extending over the idler 2'I and longitudinally of the shaft 28, the opposite end of the flexible element being attached at 30 to the slide 24. One end of a flexible element 3| is attached at 32 to the slide 24, the ilexible element specified being extended around the idler 2B and around the idler 28, the opposite end of the flexible element being secured to the pulley IU. The flexible elements 29 and 3l are wound in opposite directions about the tread of the pulley ID.

The slide 24 is supplied with a cam 33, which is adapted to engage a projection 34, forked as at 35, to receive and clamp on the front bar I of the carriage C. and capable of being placed anywhere along the front bar'. More than `one of the projections 34 may be employed, and they may be removed one after another, when each has served its purpose, as hereinafter described, the scale 2 constituting means whereby the projections may be placed in any desired locations along the front bar.

A shaft 36 extends longitudinally of the carriage C, at the rear portion thereof, the shaft being journaled in the end members of the carriage. A crank arm 31 is secured to the shaft 3B and is disposed adjacent to the pulley |0. The rear end of a rigid connecting rod 38 is pivoted at 39 to the crank arm 31, the forward end of the rod being pivoted at 40 to a crank arm 4| on the shaft 20.

The shaft 36 is slidable in and rotatable with a striker 42 tiltably mounted in a bracket 42' 1n which shaft 36 is slidable and rotatable. This bracket is located on any accessible part 44 of the -typewriter frame where it can strike a bell 43 also mounted on said part. The precise means whereby the bell 43 is sounded, Aby the operation of the shaft 36, may be altered within wide limits, without a corresponding departure from the spirit of t e invention.

The sha t 20 may be referred to as a guide shaft. The slide 24 and the carriage C have parts (to wit, the cam 33 andthe projection 34) which impart rocking movement to the guide shaft when the slide has been advanced to a predetermined place. The flexible elements 29 and 3| may be considered as a flexible element wherein the slide 24 is interposed. The shaft 36 may be called a signal shaft.

Each time that the platen shaft 5 is given a partial rotation, in the usual way, to roll up the paper for the beginning of a new line, the clutch mechanism 6-9 of Figure 3 imparts partial rotation to the pulley l0, and the torsion in the spring is increased. The flexible element 3| pays oi the pulley l0, and the flexible element 29 is wound about the pulley, the slide 24 moving to the rmht on the shaft 20, which at that time is not under rotation.

Ultimately, the slide 24 is advanced to a place where the cam 33 rides across the projection 34 l on the shaft 20, and that shaft is given a partial rotation. The crank arm 4|, the connection 38 and the crank arm 31 rotate the shaft 3S, and the striker 42 gives a tap to the bell 43, as the cam clears the projection 34 on the shaft 20.

The operator moves the lever I4 to the solid line position of Figure 5, and the cam projection or offset |9 on the radius arm I6 moves clear of the hub of the pulley |0. The spring 8 of Figure 5 moves the puiley ID to the right. The clutch 6--9 lets go, and pulley I0 is rotated reversely by the spring The exible element 29 pays off the pulley I0, and the flexible eleinent 3| is wound about the pulley. The slide 24 is carried to the left until it engages the buffer spring 23.

When the operator moves the lever |4 to the dotted line position of Figure 5, the cam projection I9 on radius arm assumes the position of Figure 5, the pulley '|0 moves to the left, and the clutch elements 6 9 are interengaged. The position of the cam projection I9, longitudinally of the fork I8 of the radius arm I5, will depend on the make of the typewriter on which the device is used. On some typewriters the lever |4 occupies the solid line position of Figure 5 when the paper is gripped; on others it occupies the dotted line position of that figure when the paper is gripped.

What is claimed is:

1. In a warning device for typewriters, a. typewriter carriage, a platen shaft journaled on the carriage, a pulley loose on the platen shaft, a releasable clutch connection between the pulley and the platen shaft and constituting means for imparting direct rotation to the pulley from the platen shaft, a guide shaft mounted to rock on the carriage, a slide mounted to reciprocate on the guide shaft, the slide and the carriage having parts which interengage to impart rocking movement to the guide shaft in one direction, when the slide has been advanced a predetermined amount, and then clear, to set the guide shaft free for rocking movement in an opposite direction, a exible element having its end portions wound in opposite directions about the pulley and secured'thereto, the slide being interposed in the flexible element, means on the carriage for guiding the iiexible element, a signal supported adjacent to the carriage, signal-actuating mechanism connected to the guide shaft and operative when the guide shaft is set free,

and resilient means for imparting reverse rotation to the pulley when the clutch connection is thrown out.

2. A warning device for typewriters, constructed as set forth in claim 1, and wherein the interengageble parts on the slide and on the carriage comprise a cam on the slide and a transverse projection on the carriage and engageable bythe cam.

3. A warning device for typewriters, constructed as set forth in claim 1, in combination with means for mounting the said interengageable part of the carriagefor adjustment longitudinally of the carriage.

4. A warning device for typewriters, constructed as set forth in claim 1, in combination with a release for the clutch connection, the release comprising the paper-grip release-lever of a typewriter, and a radius arm pivoted to the lever and having a cam which engages the pulley to maintain the clutch connection operative, the radius arm being slidably supported on the platen shaft, to free the cam from the pulley, and

the pulley being slidable longitudinally of they platen shaft, to set free the clutch connection.

5. A warning device for typewriters, constructed as set forth in claim 1, and wherein the signalactuating mechanism comprises a signal shaft mounted to rock on the carriage, means on the signal shaft for operating the signal, crank arms on the signal shaft and the guide shaft, and a connection pivoted to the crank arms.

,HAROLD s. 

